Apple's forthcoming third-generation iPad will have a newly redesigned dock connector, and will be released no earlier than March 2012, according to a new report.

Citing a "reliable Asian source," Japanese site Macotakara reported on Friday that Apple is preparing to release its next-generation iPad about a year after the iPad 2 debuted. The person reportedly said that the new iPad will be the same size as the iPad 2, but it is "not clear" if the tablet will sport a higher resolution Retina Display.

Production of the third-generation iPad is said to be under an "unusual rush schedule" due to the Chinese New Year on Jan. 23 and national holidays from Jan. 22 to 28. Factories will allegedly begin to produce the next iPad at the end of January.

The report said the so-called "iPad 3" will feature a redesigned, smaller dock connector, though the port will feature the same 30-pin input and electricity specification. The current design was first introduced in Apple's iPod lineup back in April of 2003.

Included are pictures of ribbon cables said to be from a prototype third-generation iPad, sold by a parts dealer from the Far East.

The site noted that the new dock connector will create compatibility issues with current products that utilize Apple's standard iPod 30-pin connector, forcing users to potentially buy new accessories and third-party manufacturers to make new products.

Finally, another source also reportedly suggested that Apple is currently building another device in the iOS family, to join the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple TV. However, the information was described as "not reliable," though "interesting."

1) I agree with others about getting TB support into the next iDevice release.

2) Of course people will complain and claim that Apple changed the dock connector so they can sell more accessories but let's look at the facts. A decade of the same 30-pin connector that is showing its age with it's large size compared to the devices it plugs into. What other vendors have used the same connector for that long and across so many products?

PS: Off topic: re there any iPhone 4/4S 3rd-party docks that work with a case or Bumper on? I hate that Apple doesn't allow for both at the same time.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

In theory, you could get rid of the entire doc connector - just replace it with a small connector. The connector doesn't have to be USB, all it needs to do is charge the iPad battery. With iOS5, there's no need for a full connector since it doesn't have to be connected to the computer to even be synced.

In theory, you could get rid of the entire doc connector - just replace it with a small connector. The connector doesn't have to be USB, all it needs to do is charge the iPad battery. With iOS5, there's no need for a full connector since it doesn't have to be connected to the computer to even be synced.

You do need to a wired sync the first time to turn on WiFi sync to iTunes or if you just have iTunes Match just add each song to a new device. Neither are ideal for the capacity devices we have now and will have in the future. Capacity will grow much faster than real-world wireless through will grow. Having TB for syncing and charging will speed up both considerably compared to USB.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

The site noted that the new dock connector will create compatibility issues with current products that utilize Apple's standard iPod 30-pin connector, forcing users to potentially buy new accessories and third-party manufacturers to make new products.

I'm not sure whether those are compatibility issues or compatibility opportunities.

Both Apple and third parties make huge amounts from the hardware ecosystem. iHome alone must pay Apple huge amounts to license the dock connector, and in return, make lots of sales of lots of products due to their use of Apple's connector. And there are a bazillion other companies like them (few as good, IMO).

This will be a boon for them. It happens every few years with Apple's proprietary connectors. Everybody upgrading from the first two generations will need to buy all new docking stuff, and lots of new sales will be made of items the consumer already has, but which have been made obsolete.

If this was true then there would be no need for the Ethernet connection on any of the Macs since they all have wireless as well, but that isn't really the case.

The doc connector does not provide an ethernet connection, only a faster connection to the computer. It has nothing to do with the WiFi connection. Proof: Turn off Wifi and 3G (if you have it) and try to surf anything on the web while connected to the computer. Can't do it, because the doc connector provides no data path to the computer for this functionality.

So, I really don't understand your point. The Mac has a wired connection to make the throughput faster, but on the iPad, it makes no difference.

The doc connector does not provide an ethernet connection, only a faster connection to the computer. It has nothing to do with the WiFi connection. Proof: Turn off Wifi and 3G (if you have it) and try to surf anything on the web while connected to the computer. Can't do it, because the doc connector provides no data path to the computer for this functionality.

So, I really don't understand your point. The Mac has a wired connection to make the throughput faster, but on the iPad, it makes no difference.

Its an analogy. Think about it for a minute.

OSX, because making UNIX user friendly is easier than debugging windows.

Huh? I said a faster connection to the computer, not to the computer's WiFi connection. Totally different. The justification for needing ethernet RJ45 connector and doc connector are two different topics.

The dock connector is 8 years old so if it gets replaced with a smaller one that makes old accessories obsolete Apple can say that 8 years is enough. Most people will grumble and then buy replacements anyway.

Currently Thunderbolt is not a suitable choice for iOS devices because active cabling (expensive, power consuming wires with chips at each end) is needed and because the communication chips that would have to go inside the devices are relatively large and power hungry.

What might be possible, however, is for Apple to design a lower speed version of Thunderbolt that can work with ordinary copper wire over short distances. It would still be fast compared to USB 2, but not nearly as expensive or power hungry as Thunderbolt is today. So instead of two separate channels offering 10Gbps each, maybe the low power Thunderbolt would be one channel at 2Gbps. Even such a "crippled" Thunderbolt would offer real world performance 5 times that of USB 2.0.

Huh? I said a faster connection to the computer, not to the computer's WiFi connection. Totally different. The justification for needing ethernet RJ45 connector and doc connector are two different topics.

NO one is saying we need Ethernet on iDevices. Please reread those posts.

What might be possible, however, is for Apple to design a lower speed version of Thunderbolt that can work with ordinary copper wire over short distances. It would still be fast compared to USB 2, but not nearly as expensive or power hungry as Thunderbolt is today. So instead of two separate channels offering 10Gbps each, maybe the low power Thunderbolt would be one channel at 2Gbps. Even such a "crippled" Thunderbolt would offer real world performance 5 times that of USB 2.0.

This is what I assume, and what I assume others mean by wanting TB in iDevices. There is no need for the 10Gbps bi-directional speeds with the ability to daisy chain, etc. Just a significantly faster data speed and charging compared to USB.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

NO one is saying we need Ethernet on iDevices. Please reread those posts.

Perhaps no one reads my posts. I'm saying WiFi only on the iDevices would be just fine. This IS ethernet. Actually, it's what we already have been living with this entire time. Show me an RJ45 connection on an iDevice. Does such an adapter exist? Please provide a link if they do, I'd be interested to try that out.

All I was saying, with WiFi syncing to your iTunes on computer, is the 30 pin doc connector actually needed anymore?